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Have you ever entered into a barter agreement? It can be a great way to get the services you need while conserving cash. We are open to barter at Fletcher Prince.

Occasionally, we trade Fletcher Prince services (marketing, public relations, video production, design, social media) for services or other trades we value.

We find this type of exchange works best for friendly, short-term, well-defined barters of goods and services with other small businesses. For example, last year, I traded a logo design for a week in a beach house. Two years before, I swapped video production services for portrait photography services. Both parties were very happy with the arrangement.

If you have something of value to offer, besides money, why not make us an offer? We would definitely consider barters for

Short-term stays in vacation condos or homes (spring, summer, fall)

Business services

Health and beauty services

And for this, we are happy to exchange

Design services (logo design, brochure design, direct mail, etc.)

Social media training (e.g., coaching on blogging, Twitter, Facebook)

YouTube video production

Photography services

As with traditional paid work, we will feature your project in our portfolio and list you as a Fletcher Prince client. If you’ve got a nice place at the beach, contact me right away 🙂 and let’s make a barter!

Income from bartering is taxable in the year in which you receive the goods or services. Generally, you report this income on Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business Form 1040.

I have been thinking a lot about the economy, my own business, and what works and doesn’t work in a recession.

As I try to find the answers, I’ve been pondering the ways the recession has changed the way people spend their money, and how marketers can incorporate those changes in their key messages and design.

One very big trend I have noticed is that people are increasingly choosing locally produced services and products (sometimes referred to localism), and are even starting to choose small businesses over large ones.

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for affordable and fun ways to promote your micro business or nonprofit organization. (A micro business is a small business that has ten or fewer employees.) One promotion technique is presenting your business or nonprofit organization at a local fair or festival. This can be an affordable way to show off your business to thousands of people in your community.

I entered a contest recently and the grand prize is $20,000. One of the entry requirements is that you have to describe how you would spend the money on your small business.

Wow. The mind reels! Can you imagine?

So, let’s say $20,000 fell in your lap, and you had to spend it on your business over the course of, let’s say, a year. How would you spend it? This was actually a good exercise in thinking about safety and risk. Would you try some things that you weren’t sure would work? I would.

But now that I think about it, I could have also hired an intern…or purchased an incredible video camera…or even rented meeting space for a seminar series I’ve been dreaming about. So many choices! What would you spend your play money on?

If you enter and do win, I’m counting on you to use some of your $20,000 to take me to lunch for telling you about the contest!